Punching-machine.



J. H. THOMPSON.

YUNUHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 5111!.21, 1908.

Patented May 17,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHLBET 1.

FFETJ.

INVENTVOR WITNESSES 7% m.

Mam-

J. H. THOMPSON.

PUNOHING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mum, 190s. 957,914, V Patented May 17, 1910.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 2.

JOHN H. THOMPSON, OF CHESWIGK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BRIDGECOMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PUNCHING-IVIACHINE.

acacia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1908.

Patented May 1'7, 1910.

Serial No. 411,892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. THOMPSON, of Cheswick, Allegheny county,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPunching-Machines, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exactdescription, re erence being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figure l is an end elevation of apunching machine embodying my invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 arerespectively end and front views of a portion of the machine showing theapplication of my invention thereto.

My invention has relation to punching machines of the class describedand claimed in the patent to Weatherson, No. 823,148, dated June 12th,1906. In this class of machines, a support is provided for the plate tobe punched, which support is universally movable in a single plane, andwhich carries a templet or pattern plate located to one side or at oneend of the plate to be punched. Centering means are provided whichcooperate with the templet or pattern plate to secure the support andthe plate relatively to the punch. These centering means consistpreferably of a pin carried by a lever and adapted to enter theperforations in the pattern plate or templet. When the pin is en teredin any particular perforation of the templet, and the punch is operated,a hole is punched in the plate in the correct position.

The present invention is designed to provide improved means controlledby the operation of the centering pin, whereby the punch will beautomatically thrown into operation when the pin enters a perforation inthe pattern plate; that is to say, to provide means whereby thecentering pin and the punch may be operated by one motion of the hand,doing away with separate levers and connections for controlling theoperation of the tool, enabling the operation of the machine to becarried out more rapidly, and making it impossible to punch holes at awrong place in the plate by throwing the plunger into operationprematurely.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, which will now be described, it beingpremised, however, that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and arrangement by those skilled innthe art Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

In these drawings, the numeral 2 designates the frame of the punchingmachine, having an overhanging arm 3 in which the punch 4 and itsoperating mechanism are supported.

5 designates the punch operating shaft, which is driven from the drivingshaft 6 by the pinion 7 and gear wheel 8.

9 is the reciprocating ram of the punch which operates upon the tool 4by means of the gag plate 10, which is arranged to be interposed betweenthe lower end of the ram and the head of the tool.

The parts as thus far described may be of any ordinary or usualcharacter. My in vention is not concerned with the particularconstruction or character of the punching machine itself.

ll designates the universally movable table or support for the plate tobe punched. This is mounted upon the two sets of track Wheels 12 and 13,substantially as shown and described in the Weatherson patent abovereferred to, to which reference may be had for the details. This tableor support may, however, be mounted in any suitable manner for thepurpose.

l4: designates the centerin pin, which is adapted to enter theperforatlons in the pattern plateor templet. This pin is looselyconnected at its upper end to a hand lever 15, which is fulcrumed at 16in a link 17 carried by a supporting arm or bracket 18 fastened to theframe member. 2 which supports the moving table 11.

19 is a spring, which is interposed between the lever and the bracket orsupport 18 for the purpose of normally holding the lever in its elevatedposition with the pin 14: withdrawn from the pattern plate or templet.

20 is a link, which has a pin and slot connection'21 at one end portionwith the lever 15, and which is connected at its opposite The shaft 22may be conveniently supported and journaled at one end in the casing ofthe overhanging arm, and its opposite end portion is journaled in asupporting stud 30 which is carried by the arm or bracket 18.

The operation is as follows :-When the operator depresses the lever 15for the purpose of causing the index or centering pin 14 to enter one ofthe perforations in the templet, the connections 20, 21, 21 22, 25, 26,27, 28 and 29 are thereby operated to move the gag 10. underneath theram of the punch so that the reciprocation of the ram will operate thepunch. As soon as the operator releases the lever 15, the counterweight23 will operate said connections to withdraw the gag plate into theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the further reciprocation ofthe ram will not actuate the punch. The slot at the lower end of thelink 20 provides for a certain amount of movement of the lever 15 beforethe connections with the gag are operated, this being for the purpose ofinsuring the entrance of the index pin into the templet before the punchis thrown into operation.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. The same motion of theoperator which causes the index or centering pin to enter the patternplate or templet throws the punch into operation, and the withdrawal ofthe said pin throws the tool out of operation. This not only saves timein the operation of the machine, but it prevents the premature startingof the punch.

While I have shown my invention as applied to a punching machine, inwhich the operation of the punch is controlled by a gag, it will bereadily understood that it is also adapted to those machines in whichthe operation of the punch is controlled by means of a clutch, the link26 being connected to a clutch shifting lever instead of to a'gag-shifting lever as shown. It will also be understood that variousother changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangementwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of amovable templet and work support, an index pin arranged to cooperatewith the templet, a tool acting on the work, a device for throwing thetool into and out of operation, and a system of link and leverconnections between the index pin and the said device; substantially asdescribed.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movabletemplet and Work support, a lever, an index pin carried by said leverand arranged to cooperate with the templet, a tool for acting on thework, a device'arran ed to eifect the starting and stopping o the tool,a counterweighted lever connected to said device, and a connectionbetween said lever and the lever which carries the index pin;substantially as described.

3. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a movabletemplet and work support, an index pin arranged to cooperate with thetem )let, a tool for acting on the work, a mova le gag plate forcontrolling the operation of the tool, and a system of mechanicalconnections between the index pin and the gag plate; substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with punching mechanism, of a supporting frame andmanually operable centering means arranged to effect the operation ofthe punch simultaneously with the operation of the centering means.

5. The combination with punching mechanism, of a supporting frame andmanually operable centering means, and mechanism connected therewitharranged to effect the operation of the punch dependent on the centeringmeans.

6. The combination with a continuously operating punching machine havinga normally inoperative punch, of means for rendering the punchoperative, and manually operable centering means operatively connectedtherewith.

7 The combination with the moving portion of a punching machine and anormally stationary punch, of an interlocking element, and manuallyoperable centering mechanism connected therewith and arranged to effectsimultaneous centering and punching operations.

8. The combination with the reciprocating head of a punching machine anda loosely mounted punch spindle, of an interlocking device, a centeringpin, and manually operable actuating meohanism operatively connectedtherewith.

9. The combination with the reciprocating head of a punching machine anda loosely mounted punch spindle, of a shifting block arranged to beinserted between the reciprocating head and the spindle, a centeringpin, a manually operable actuating element, and means operatrvelyconnecting said element with the shiftmg block.

10. The combination with an adjustable plate having a reciprocating headcarrying a loosely mounted punch spindle and an 111- terlocking blocktherefor, of a templet pin and its lever, and means connected therewithfor actuating the interlocking block; substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with an adjustable plate and templet frame and apunching machine having a reciprocating head carrying a loosely mountedpunch spindle and an interlocking block therefor, of a temp let pin andits lever, a lever engaging the interlocking block, a counterweightedrock shaft, and lever mechanism connecting the and operating meansconnected therewith 10 rock shaft with said lever and with the forsimultaneously actuating the interlocktemplet pin lever; substantiallyas set forth. ing element, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with an adjustable In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set plate and templet frame and a punching my hand.

machine having a reciprocating head car- J. H. THOMPSON. rying a looselymounted punch spindle and Witnesses: an adjustable interlocking elementfor the C. T. CLAOKY,

punch spindle, of a templet pin and its lever, THos. G. POWELL.

